Gugliemi was pillar of community

I feel a strong obligation to share that I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the extraordinary positive impact Frank Gugliemi had on the Findlay and Hancock County community. In the early 1980s, when this community rallied to save and keep Marathon Petroleum here, business leaders, citizens and elected officials came together in a remarkable show of commitment and perseverance. That effort required tremendous dedication, but it succeeded — and Marathon remains our pride and joy. Out of that collective achievement, an economic development organization was formed: The Community Development Foundation, led by its first director, John Kovach. The foundation worked closely with the Findlay Industrial Center, which at the time owned a 400-acre bean field — now known as Tall Timbers Industrial Park. Three local banks stepped forward to support what would become a transformational effort for the future of the community. A dedicated team was established to promote investment in Findlay, making five trips to Japan and three to Europe over roughly a 10-year period, each member traveling at their own expense. The goal was to encourage international companies to make major investments here. Frank Gugliemi was absolutely key to those efforts. He contributed critical ideas, helped define the necessary steps and brought an energy and vision that guided the team's work. His magnetic personality attracted people wherever he went. A 1986 visit to Honda in Marysville to learn how to work effectively with Japanese companies proved invaluable. That was followed by a pivotal meeting with Mr. Honda in Tokyo, which became a turning point in the team's success. Mr. Honda personally contacted CEOs and presidents of Honda supplier companies and invited them to a presentation at the Nagoya Castle Hotel. Thirty-three CEOs and presidents attended. Once again, Frank played an instrumental role in presenting our community and its opportunities. I personally witnessed how, during social gatherings, Frank could effortlessly "sell" our community and its people. One example stands out: the first family-owend Japanese company to locate in Findlay was led by Mr. Keho Suzuki, who built the renowned Japan West restaurant. We met Mr. Suzuki at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 9 p.m. following an exhausting day spent hours away in Nagoya. Despite our fatigue, Frank along with Dr. Ken Zirkle, president of The University of Findlay, and a member of the team, insisted we honor the meeting as planned. That moment may well have marked the beginning of great success in securing Japanese investment. It is important to recognize that John Kovach was a strong and effective economic development leader, and the other team members were outstanding ambassadors for the community. Local business leaders stepped up and recognized the necessity of a strong organizations to secure the community's economic future. It was an incredible experience to observe. Today, the citizens of this community owe a great debt to many individuals — too many to name — but Frank Gugliemi's contribution to the growth and success of Findlay stands out. Over the years, many exceptional private citizens and families have shaped what this community is today. May future generations never forget or overlook that fact. Frank loved this community and did everything he could to build upon what others had started. God bless Frank. Your footprint is immense. Rest in peace. Harold "Puck" Rowe worked for Columbia Gas in Findlay for 40 years and has a long history of service to the Findlay community.